The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-02-01
Was 1T SUICIDE OR NOT?
YOUNG RAYMOND BELMONT
KILLS HIMSELF
With a Pistol Ball-A Question
Whether the Deed Was Done Ae-
cidentally or by Design.

Nav YORK, January 81 Word
reached police headquarters at 3
o'clock this morning that Raymond
Belmont, con Of Angus. Belmont, the
well known banker, had shot himself.
Il was impossible to learn at that
hour whether or not the young mans
injuries were likely 10 prove fatal, but
the police Immediately sent fr a
coroner to go to the house. Young
Belmont lived with his father at No.
100 Fifth avenue, and WAS associated
with the Belmont banking house at
No. IL Pine street. In the evening
Raymond went out to dinner. He re.
turned shortly before / O'Clock this
morning. With him was Leonard
Bstr, night Waterman, with whom
youog Raymond was we'll acquainted,
aud who frequently accompanied him
home. They went down to the lse-
ment, where there was shooting
gallery, in which young Bslmout, who
was a very expert shot, frequently
praclic6d. Here he also had revolvers
and guns. As they en- cred the room,
young Belmont wicked up double
acting Smith 4 Wesson peal handled
revolver of 32.calbre, aud turning 10
Rehr, sid: NOW, want you to go
and hold up q god collar button in
your hand a d l will shoot it out "
Behr, who bad frequently seen the
young man shoot and had great conf
dencs in him, nt once sgreed to do
this. B fore fixing up his position,
however, young Belmont turned to
him and said: 90, first close all the
doors, so that the report may not
alarm father, who is upstairI." There
upon Behr walk ID ovsr to door and
had just put his band upon it wnen he
hea d the report OF the pistol. Turn,
ing at otce, he saw young Belmont
falling to toe flor, 'od gushing
from O wouod in The rig.C side OF his
head. my God, Raymond" he
cri d, what have you doDe% He
leaned over the young man, who
opened his eyes and, looking at him,
tried 10 speak, but could not. As
Behr looked at him he clo2ed his eyes
and was unc )nslious. Behr aroused
August Belmont, the young mans
father, who was all alone in the house.
The Waterman was sent fIr DR.. Polk,
the family physician, aud in few
moments be was at the young mans
bedside with two other physicians.
They tried to Iesnscitste the young
man, but failed. He died coon after
the bullet entered his brain.
Coroner Eidman aud his deputy
were not fed. They found that tue
bullet had passed clear Through the
skull, entering the right eide OF the
head and coming out at the left. The
Waterman eaid the shooting was acct
dental, bat the coroner said all the in
dicstions pointed TO suicide. II was
evident that young Belmont had taken
considerable wine with his dinner.
Mre. Belmont is In Washington with
Congressman Perry Belmont. She
was notified by telegraph this morn
Ing.
Coroner Eidmsn said today that he
had no doubt that the shooting of
Raymond Belmont was due to The &C.
cidental discharge of the revolver. He
was called to the case early this morn
ingf but az 1t rightfuly belonged to his
associate, Coroner Nugent, he trans-
ferred the case t, him. He, however,
made some inquiries aud acquainted
himself with facts sufficient, taken in
connettioH with the other circun.
stances, tJfsel assured that the case
was not one of suicide.
The 60 'onsr Will leave the question
as to whether the death was accident
al or suicidal to a jury. Perso nally,
he is conyirc ed that the shooting was
&C .idental.